Well production apparatus



Dec. 11, 1934.

J. H. HOWARD El AL 1,983,854

WELL 7 PRODUCT ION APPARATUS Filed Nov. 6, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l snow @015 v Dec. 11, 1934.

J. H. HOWARD ET AL 7 WELL PRODUCTION APPARATUS Filed NOV. 6, 1931 5 39 7a I; 70. 3: 5e 46 37 32 1 I Ede 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 llllll Patented pee. 11, 1934 1,983,854

UNITED STATES PATENT OFF-ICE M I WILL PRODUCTION APPARATUS James 1!. Howard and Joseph H. HcEvoy, In;

Houston, Tex, aasignorl to 1. IL HcEvoy & Company. Houston, Tex, a corporation of Texas Application November s, 1931. Serial No. 513,324 5 Claims. (01- let-1s One type of conventional well production apsection 4 or the tubing into the upper section "I, paratus includesa casing avin a master valv and then outwardly through the pipe 19 into the Sectional i w the casing and extendcoupling 20 and then into flow lines21, 22 and 23. ing through the valve, and means to separate the The flow lines are connected to various valved 5 sections or the tubing so that the master valve pipes m tm h t is commonly c ll d a, 5 1 may be closed between the separated sections Christmas tree. The pipe 19 is held in'place by without removing the tubing from the casing. tie rods 24 and 25 connected, respectively. to flow This invention has for its specific object the pipes 21 and 23, and to cylinder 8. Fig. 1 illus- Dmvision w a d i p 51 8 whereby trates the connection 0! tie rod 24 to the cylinderfluid under pressure may be utilized to separat 8 by means of a lug 28 through which the tie rod 10 and unite the tubing sections. 24 extends and in which it is fixed by the nuts 27. The pr i r d. mb di en s oi the nv n The pipe 19 is thereby held stationary. The upare illustrated by the accompanying drawings, 01 per section I or the tubing surrounds and isslidwhich Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of one em.- able on the lower end of the pipe 19 and is sealed l5 bodiment of the invention; Fig, 2. a fra n i! thereto by a suitable packing 28 compressed by detail view illustrating the pipe holding means gland 29 actuated by threaded ring 30. adapted for use with the embodiment shown y It will be obvious that when the tubing section Figs. land 3; Fig. 3, a sectional elevation of an- -'l is in the position fliOWn by Fig. 1, it is in the other embodiment oi the inventi n; 8- a path'oi the gate a of the valve so that the gate tail vertical section oi the valve of Figs. 1 and 3, cannot be closed. The means provided by this 20 tak n on h li e 4- f F 5; and Figs. 5 and 6, invention for moving the upper section '7 oi the 11011201117811 sections on the lines 5-5 and 6-5, retubing upwgrdly out (sf the path of the gate}! spectively 01' Fig. 4. and then downwardly into engagement with the In the drawinga'the conventional well casin lower tubing section 4 includes the cylinder 8 is indicated at 1. F g. 3.) On the upp end 01. and piston 9; above referred to, and a pipe indi- 25 this casing is mounted the valve 2 having a 89470 cated generally at 31 and a valve 32 for direct- Within the casing 1 is a sectional tubing, the lower 111g fluid under pressure in t casing t t lower section 4 or which is stati ns-r113 h l in the and upper sides of piston 9, successively. This ing by a suitable an h r The $110110! 5 has pipe 31 includes a branch 31a leading tromithe 30 fluid duets 6 to permit the p s 1! fluid coupling 17 intothe valve 32; a branch 31b lead- 30 wardly between the casing and the tubinging from the valve 32 tothe lower portion of the Refelfring w-particularly to Fi e cylinder 8; a'branch 310 leading from valve 32 section 7 of the u in extends from to the upper portion or the cylinder 8; and an section 4 upw through the'viflve outlet 31c leading from the valve.

35 rounding the upper s c n 7 is a cylinder:8 i The valve 32 is illustrated in detail by Figs. ,4, as which is reciproeeble a piston 9 ,comprisinga r1118 5 and o. It includes a plug 321: having extending welded on the tubing section 7. Theupper end of therethrough a diametrical bore 321,, and I the cylin r is sealed by a Packing m'flvmng tending from the center thereof outwardly a a reduced extension 11. Sumundine the tubing. radial bore 32c. The plug 32a also has a longi- 40 section and compressed Suitable Blend tudinal groove 32a communicating with an enhu- 4o actuated by the ring 13. The ring 13 is threaded mo" 328 m its base portion on the extension 11 at 13c and on the tubing sec- Now, it Wm be apparent that when the plus {I 1.51011 7 at and serves to lea-anyhow mg 32:: is in the position shown by Figs. 4, 5 and 6, tubing section 7 onthe tubing section 4, as shown fl id under meme may pm from the casing by F 8- The lower end the cylinder 8 is through the branch 31a of the pipe into the plu 45 closed y th base 14, a which e tubing 88cm 32. rt-iviil pass into the diametl'ical bore 32b,

. '7 snugly fits. Ah l vr b a and then out of the radial bore 32c into the threaded ring 1 may be emp to sea-1 the branch. 31b of thepipe by which it will be'die spacebetwe nth tubing nd the 9 T rected to the lower portion of the cylinder 8.1

0 base 14 is connccted'to the valve 3 y th 1 The fluid under pressure will force the piston9 so coupling 1'1. 7 upwardlnand the piston will carry'th'e tubing Fluid may flow upwardly between the time! section '1 upwardly out oi the path oi the gate'3 and the casing h the "h which may then be closed; The fluid in'thepyh tubing section '1 and'o'ut oithe outlet 18. i .inder siabove the piston-9 will. escape throughfthe s5 Fluid may also flow upwa dly romthc lower. branch sic. of, t e p pe i to the lon itudinal. e

groove 32d of the plug, into the annular groove 32a of the plug and out of the outlet 31e.

When the plug 32a is rotated through 180 degrees in an anti-clockwise direction (Fig. 4), the radial bore 320 is made to communicate with the branch 310 of the pipe and the longitudinal groove 32d is made to communicate with the branch 31b of the 'pipe. Fluid under pressure will then'flow from the casing through the branch 31a of the pipe, into the diametrical bore 32?) of the plug, out of the radial bore 32c of the plug, into the branch 310 of the pipe by which it will be directed to the upper portion of the cylinder 8 to force the piston 9 downwardly. And the'iluid in the cylinder beneath the'piston 9 may then escape through the branch 31b of the pipe into the longitudinal groove 32d of the plug, into the annular groove 32a of the plug and out of the outlet 31c.

The tubing section 7, therefore, may be moved upwardly away from the tubing section 4 out of the path of the gate 3, and then downwardly into engagement with the tubing section 4 by operating the valve 32. 1 v

If desired, the branch 31a of the pipe may be provided with a valve 33 so that the cylinder and branch pipes adjacent thereto may be completely out off from the casing.

It will be understood that in order to permit movement of the upper section 7*of the tubing, the threads 13?) of the ring 13are disconnected from the upper section '7 of the tubing by rotating the ring 13, before fluid is introduced into the cylinder 8.

Referring now to Fig. 3, the embodiment shown includes a housing 34 mounted on the valve 2. The upper section 7a of the tubing-in this embodiment, which is somewhat diflerent from the upper section '7 of the tubing in the embodiment shown by Fig. 1, extends upwardly through and is slidable in the housing 34, fitting snugly therein and sealed thereto by a packing 35 having the usual gland 36 and ring 3'7.

The section 7a is slidable on the lower end of a fixed pipe 19a which is connected to the coupling 20a and heldin place. by suitable tie rods, one of which is shown at 24a connected to a branch pipe 21a leading from the coupling 20a and secured to the housing 34 by asuitable-lug 26 and bolts 27. The tubing section "(a is sealed to the pipe section 19a by a suitable packing '28 including a gland 29a andring 30a.

Rigidly mounted on the tubing sections In is a crosshead 38 and to this crosshead are secured by bolts 39 and 40 piston rods41 and 42, respectively. The piston rods 41 and 42 are connected to pistons in cylinders 43 and 44, respectively. The piston to. which rod 42 is connected is indicated at 45. The cylinders 43 and44 are stationarily mounted, in any-suitable manner, .on the housing 34. The crosshead 38 is normally held in its lowermost position by tie rods 46 and 47 extending upwardly from the cylinders and having on their upper extremities nuts 48 and 49.

The tubing section 7a is thereby normally held in It will be apparent from the foregoing that when the nuts 48 and 49 are removed and the plug 32a of the valve'is moved to the position shown by Figs. 4, 5 and 6, fluid will flow from the casing through the branch 31a of the pipe into the branch 31b of the pipe to the lower portions of the cylinders 43 and 44, and will force the pistons therein upwardly, so that the rods 41 and 42 will be moved upwardly, to elevate the crosshead 38 and the upper section 7a of the tubing so that the gate 3 may be closed. The fluid in the cylinders above-the-pistons may escape through the branch 31c of the pipe and out of the outlet 31e'.

Whenthe plug 32a of the valve is rotated through 180 degrees in an anti-clockwise direction (Fig. 4) fluid will flow from the casing through the branch 31a of the pipe and the branch 31c of the pipe into the upper portions of the cylinders 43 and 44 to force the pistons downwardly, the fluid beneath the pistons thereupon escaping through the branch 31b of the pipe and outlet 312'. And the tubing section 70 will thereby be moved downwardly into engagement with the tubing section 4.

It will be understood that the gate 3 is opened before the upper tubing section of either embodiment is moved downwardly.

While the drawings and the foregoing descrip- .tion disclose the utilization of fluid'under pres-.- sure in the casing, fluid under pressure may be derived from some other source. The invention is not limited to the preferred embodiments dis- 'close'd. Various changes may be made within the scope of the following claims:

I claim;

1. In well apparatus: a casing; a casing valve mounted on said casing; a sectional tubing in said casing, the lower section of said tubing being anchored in said casing below the path of said valve, the upper section of said tubing extending lupwardlygfrom said lower section through said valve; a cylinder mounted on and above said valve; a piston connected to said upper section of said tubing and reciprocable in said cylinder; a pipe communicating with the upper and lower portions of said cylinder and with said casing and having an outlet; and a control valve to control the flow of fluid from said pipe intosaid cylinder below and above said piston and through said outlet, to cause movement of said upper section of said tubing out'of the path of said casing valve and into contact with the lower section of said tubing, successively.

2, In well apparatus: a casing; a valve mounted on said casing; a sectional tubing, the lower section of said tubing being anchoredin said casing below said valve; a coupling above and connected .to said valve and having an outlet for fluid in said "casing; a cylinder above and connected to said coupling; the upper'section of said tubing extending upwardly from saidlower section of said tubing, through said valve, coupling and cylinder; a piston in said cylinder and connected to said upper section of said tubing; and a pipe to direct fluid under pressure from said casing to the'lower portion of said cylinder to force said piston upwardly and thereby elevate said upper section of said tubing to permit closure of said valve.

3. In well apparatus: a casing; a valve mounted on said casing; a sectional tubing, the lower section of said tubing being anchored in said casing below said valve; a coupling above and connected to said valve and having an outletior fluid in said casing; a cylinder above and connected to said coupling; the upper section of said tubing extend- ,ing upwardly from said lower section of said tubing, through said valve, coupling and cylinder; a piston in said cylinder and connected to said upper section of said tubing; a. pipe communicating with the upper and lower portions of said cylinder, and with said casing, and having an outlet; and a valve to control the flow of fiuid through said pipe to cause up and down movement of the said upper section of said tubing.

4. Inwell apparatus: a casing; a valve mounted on said casing; a sectional tubing in said casing, the lower section of said tubing being anchored in said casing beneath the path of said valve; a cylinder mounted on said valve; the upper section of said tubing extending upwardly from the lower section of said tubing through said valve and through said cylinder; and a ring threaded to said tubing and cylinder to releasably hold said upper section of said tubing in engagement with said lower section of said tubing; said upper section of said tubing being movable upwardly after it is released by said ring, to permit closure of said valve.

5. In well apparatus: a casing; a valve in said casing; a sectional tubing in said casing, one of the sections of said tubing being anchored in said casing beneath the path of said valve; a. cylinder above said valve; the upper section of said tubing extending upwardly from the lower section of said tubing through said valve into said cylinder; a piston connected to said upper section of said tubing and reciprocable in said cylinder; and means to introduce fluid under pressure into said cylinder to move said piston and thereby elevate said upper section of M tubing to permit closure of said valve.

JAMES H. HOWARD. JOSEPH H. McEVOY, JR. 

